SOUTH BEND — Parents are on edge again after learning a loaded gun was found inside South Bend's Washington High School for the third time this year. Washington's School Resource Officer found the gun early Tuesday afternoon inside a student's book bag in a school hallway.

Police detained two students for questioning at the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center as they tried to figure out where the gun came from and how it got into the school. Neither student had been arrested or charged by late Tuesday night, according to Washington High School Resource Officer Sergeant Eric Crittendon.

Sgt. Crittendon found the gun shortly after noon on Tuesday after a parent called the school saying her son told her he saw a male student carrying the gun at school earlier in the day.

It's the third handgun found at Washington in the past eight months.

A 14-year-old student was arrested for carrying a gun onto a bus at the school in February, and an 18-year-old was arrested with a gun on school property in March.

This time, the gun was found inside the school.

"It was found inside a book bag that was laying on the floor," said Sgt. Crittendon. "When the gun was found, it was loaded."

Officers also found what South Bend Police Captain Phil Trent called a "substantial" amount of what appeared to be marijuana inside the book bag.

"Some substance was found inside the bag," confirmed Sgt. Crittendon. "But it hasn't been tested, so I can't actually say if it's marijuana or not."

Crittendon says at least one student reported seeing a 17-year-old male student with the handgun on his person earlier in the day.

Trent says video surveillance later showed a female student, believed to be 14-years-old, with the gun late in the morning.

Both students, whose names are not being released because they are minors, were taken to the Juvenile Justice Center, between 2pm and 3pm, and were still being detained Tuesday night. Several other students were also questioned, but were later released.

Both students could face felony possession of a firearm on school property charges, as well as either misdemeanor or felony drug charges.

Meanwhile, emotions flared as parents picked up their children at the school Tuesday afternoon.'

"It's kind of got me in shock," said Towanda Daniels, whose daughter Shanika is a freshman at Washington. "I'm in shock right now. That's too many times."

For parent after parent, it's a familiar feeling hitting all over again.

"It's appalling. It definitely puts you more on edge," said Damita Callahan, whose daughter Kayla Kindred is a freshman at Washington.

"It seems like it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," said Paul Taylor, whose daughter is a junior at Washington. "It scares me. Because you've had other school shootings, and other things happen at other schools. It just takes one crazy kid."

Some parents WSBT spoke with were also upset that didn't learn about the incident until we informed them of it.

"They probably should have notified the parents," said Callahan.

Many students WSBT spoke with outside the school also knew nothing about what happened.

"Usually we know everything," said Kindred. [But, we didn't hear about it.]

"It kind of makes you feel unsafe," said Daniels.

"And scared," added Kindred.

Crittendon says police held the information back purposely to keep students and parents from panicking.

"We go with the facts to try not to alarm any student. If we felt there was heightened security, then we would take appropriate measures. But, after doing some investigation, we knew this was an isolated incident," Crittendon said.

Still, some aren't convinced it won't happen again.

That's why they're pushing for change.

"I think they probably need to put in metal detectors," said Callahan.

"They need metal detectors, so they'll know what's coming into the school," agreed Daniels.

"Metal detectors on all the entrances," said Taylor.

It's not a new idea.

South Bend's School Board has debated the idea several times over the last few years, but no action has ever been taken to install the detectors.

School Board President Sheila Bergeron says that's because they believe metal detectors haven't been the right move in the past.

"I don't think that's really the answer. If a student wants to get a gun into school, there's always ways to do it," Bergeron said. "I think the answer is to keep the guns out of students' hands before they get to school."

Even so, Bergeron says she is open to discussing the idea.

"It is something we need to look at, and see how successful we can be with it. But there's only so much you can do. I don't think you can run a school like a prison," she said.

Bergeron says most schools already have police liaison resource officers, security guards on staff, and rules against taking backpacks and coats into classrooms to try and minimize risk to staff and students.

Crittendon says, those steps are working.

"This may not be Washington's first time, or even second time. But, the thing is, we're finding them. So, it goes to say, why should you change something that's working? Because we are finding them."

Some parents worry a day may come when a gun isn't found in time.

That's why they'll keep pushing for change.

"I expect [Kayla's] safety to be their top priority. It needs to be at the top of the list, bottom line. So, I think they need to step it up a little more," said Callahan.

Bergeron says it's likely the school board will take up the debate over metal detectors again at their next meeting. Even if the board decides they are the right move, installing them wouldn't happen overnight.

"I think you'd have to do it at all high schools if you do it, and I don't even know if you stop at high schools. I think it's something we ought to look at again, and maybe get some outside advice," she said.